Shloka 493
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
आशंसते च बीभत्सु युद्धे जेतुं सुदारुणम् । महारथी कर्ण सदा ही अर्जुनके साथ स्पर्धा रखता था और युद्धमें अत्यन्त भयंकर अर्जुनको पराजित करनेका विश्वास प्रकट करता था
āśaṃsate ca bībhatsu yuddhe jetuṃ sudāruṇam | mahārathī karṇaḥ sadā hi arjunena sārdhaṃ spardhāṃ rakṣati sma, yuddhe cātyanta-bhayaṅkaraṃ arjunaṃ parājayituṃ viśvāsaṃ prakaṭayati sma |
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran yang amat mengerikan itu pun, Bhībhatsu (Arjuna) dikatakan dapat ditaklukkan. Sang mahāratha Karṇa—yang senantiasa memelihara persaingan dengan Arjuna—berulang kali menyatakan keyakinannya bahwa ia akan mengalahkan Arjuna, yang menakutkan di medan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal rivalry and self-assured declarations shape a warrior’s conduct in war; ethically, it cautions that confidence and competitive zeal can drive action, yet victory in the Mahābhārata is not determined by bravado alone but by a complex interplay of skill, circumstance, and dharma.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s persistent competitive stance toward Arjuna: Karṇa, counted among the foremost chariot-warriors, keeps proclaiming that he will overcome Arjuna even in a terrifyingly fierce battle.